Pea-separating machine.



PATENTED JUNE 11,. 1907..

1. s. MEEEEEE. PEA SEPAEATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10. 1905.

INVENTH' WTNESSES.'

f?. c5. m.,

'pa TTURNEY ravine s. MERRELL, or sYRAoUsE, soULE coMPANY, or sYRAoUsE,

Yoan. A

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERRELL- N EW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW PESEPAHATING MACHENE.

Naseeee.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June l 1, 1907.

Application filed August 10,1905. SerialNo. 273,650.

T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, IRVING S. MERRELL, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pea-Separating Machines, of which the following, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the art of separating peas, and refers more particularly to certain individual and associated mechanisms, whereby the perfeet peas are graded and separated from the crushed or imperfect peas and refuse as delivered from the pea-shelling machine.

It is well known that during the operation of shelling the peas, either by machinery or otherwise, more or less of the peas are crushed and, together with their refuse, such as parts of the pods and more or less dirt, are unavoidably mixed with the perfect peas, and the .essential object of my invention is to provide a simple and efiicient means for expeditiouslyT and economically separating the perfect peas from the refuse and imperfect ones, preparatory to canning.

Other objects and uses of certain parts of the apparatus will be brought out in the following description.

1e invention, briefly stated, consists essentially in dropping the mixed peas and refuse frein a suitable height upon one 'or more inclined surfaces, whereby the perfect peas are caused to bound from said surface by reason of their elasticity, while the crushed or imperfect peas and refuse simply slide or roll down the incline and arc deposited in one locality, while the perfect peas bound from said inclined surface beyond the places of deposit ofthe imperfect peas and refuse, and are thus separated from the refuse by reason of their inherent elasticity.

In the -`drawings, VFigure 1 is a vertical sectional view' of my invention, and Fig'. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on line 2`2, Fig. l.

in order to obtain the best results, the-peas and refuse are placed in a'suitable hopper having a reciprocatory bottom h2-M forming a part of an agitating frame -3'-, in which is located an inclined screen -4` extending from a point under the hopper to a second hopper -5-. The agitator frame h3` is reciprocated back and forth by the inclined bottom `8` into the troughV '9, from which it may be collected.

One side of the hopper -1` is connected to and communicates with a suction-pipe or conduit `10- from which the air 1s drawn and forced, under pressure, by a suitable blower `11` for maintaining a forced airdraft from the hopper -lthrough the con duit -10- for the purpose or removing, by suction, portions of the pods, hulls, and other light refuse which may iind its way into the base of the hopper 0r adjacent end of the conduit 10 which communicates with the base of the hopper 1` through a constricted passage 12% directly above the' movable bottom 1)- and extending some distance transversely of and above the adjacent end ofthe screen 4-, the vertical depth of said opening 12- being just suflicicnt to allow the larger through and into the adjacentv end of the suction-pipe 10 where they fall into an opening 13` in the bottom of the pipe -10- onto the upperend ofthe screen -4-. The vertical depth of this opening -12-A may be varied by means of a movable gate or section '-14- of'the 'hopper -1`, such adjustment being effected through the medium' of a rack and pinion l or equivalent device,

The vibratory or reciprocal action of the bottom -2- tends to feed the' peas forwardly vthrough the passage -12*', thereby spreading them out in a thin layer across the inner edge of the bottom, where they enter peas to pass easily therethe suct1on-pipe -10* to facilitate the 'removal, by suction, of much ofthe lighter refuse. The separation of the'dust and light refuse from the peas is further augmented by providing the bottom Q- with an air passage -17*, which has one endeommunieating with atmosphere and its other Vend opening into the adjacent end of the -pipe -l0 below the pea-passage -12-, so as to produce a comparatively strong current of air passing through the falling peas as they ICO passage ,-13-- and onto the screen lt 'thereby removing, by suction, the greater part of the pod fragmetns and lighter refuse and forcing it through the conduit where they may loe discharged at any place :remote from the separating apparatus, as for ii tance, through the discharge-opening -19 in the bottom of the conduit -10-, the suction being just sufficient to remove the dust and light refuse which are lighter than the peas, such suction being insufficient to draw Ithe perfect peas andheavier refuse into theconduit 10.

The agitator-frame -3- constitutes a chute or inclined conduit mounted upon suitable spring-arms -20- and actuated back and forth through the medium of the eccentric -6- and connecting-rod -7-, thereby causing a similar operation of the screen -4- which is mounted within the frame m3#- and along which the perfect peas, together with the `crushed peas and other refuse, not removed by the air draft. inthe pipe -l0 or screer `gradually gravitate and pass t'flrol'rgh'the discharge opening 22 in the low end of the agitatorserve the same important purpose of separating the crushed or imperfect peas, balls of dirt and mud, and larger fragments of the pods which find their way into the hopper i5, and inorder that these objectianable elements may be expeditiously and economically separated from the perfect peas, I provide one or more, in this instanceLa-'series of I inclined beds, steps or surfaces 23- arranged one above the other some distance belowithe discharge end of the hopper 5* with their low edges in different vertical planes so that the lower side of the lower inclined beds or surfaces projectbeyond the vertical plane of the one above it, whereby the imperfect peas or refuse sliding from the upper beds or surfaces fall upon the next one below it and are finally discharged or de posited at the boltoin or below the lower bed upon an inclined chute or way -24, Fig'. l while the perfect peas, which are round, hard and elastic, bound from said inclined surface or surfaces over and beyond the upper edge of the companion partition #25, there being une of these partitions located at and a .slight distance from the lower side of each of llie inclined beds or surfer-es 23.

is located a sufficient distance below the discharge end of the hopper -5 to cause the fallingpe'as, which arevperfect, to rebound over the upper edge of its partition -25- and the other underlying'inclined beds or surfaces #23* are also spaced apart a sufficient distance to cause the perfect peas to rebound over their respective partitions -25- in case they should fail ,to be separated when striking the first or upper in clined bed, the upper edges of each of said partitions 25 extendingsome distance above the horizontal plane of the lower edge of its inclined surface to prevent the imperfeet peas or refuse from sliding over the upper ends of the partitions with the perfect peas.

Each of the inclined beds or surfaces --23- may be adjusted separately or simultaneously to vary the tilting angle or degree of hinged at its low end at 26- and its higher edge is hinged to a vertically adjustable 'eye or bolt -27, which in turn, is adjustably mot ntedin a vertically adjuv stable bar --28- forminga common support for the higher edges of all the inclinedI beds or surfaces Q3- This bar -28- is adjustable vertically through the medium of al rack and pinion -29-, the pinion-shaft having a han -piece -30-, as A shown in Fig. 2, whereby s'igch adjustment may be effected at' the will of the operator.' The separate adjustment of each of theinclined beds or inthe bar -28f to' which said bolt is clamped by suitable look nuts, best seen in Fig. 1. The object of making these inclined bedsor surfaces -23-y adjustable or'tiltable at different angles, is to vary the angle of yrebound ofthe perfect peas, and also to establish a proper incline for the speedy gravitation of the imperfect peas and refuse 'therefrom so that they will strike against and fall within the partitions -251 while the perfect peas bound over the tops of said partitions and are deposited in a different place, presently described. l

The upper edges of all of the partitions 25-, except the lower one, are shown as united to inclined surfaces $2-, which serve toreceivc the perfect peas which bound from the'inclined beds -23`F and conduct them to substantially the saine vertical plane Within a suitable inclosure or vertical wall #S3-.1 This v vertical wall -33 forms one side of a vertical assage through which the perfect peas finally passI and are deposited upon an endless conveyer -34-, the falling peas being deflected onto said belt by means of a suitable de'lleeting plate 5- below the lower partition #-251, said belt being driven by any suitable driving mech,-

strfaces #23- is effected by passing the bolt -27- through an elongated slot -3 1- The upper inclined bed or surface Q3- j inclination, and for this purpose each bed is anisni in the direction indicated ii- Fig. l.

Sonie oi" the peas, although practically perlect, are less elastic, and therefore, do not rebound as high, .nor as i'ar as others, and in order that these may be collected separately, according to their degree ot elasticity, or, at least, separate troni the refuse, the partiw j i oy arrow tions are niade adjustable, separately, or together to diilerent heig `ts with relation to their respective inclined beds *vs w iw u ilV i or tns purpose, (ai. i partition .is adjustably seein-ed by separate fastening means, as bolts -Li()-, to a vertically adjustable traine *S3-1 which, in turn, is inounte l on one or inore lined upright supports -St having open sided slots -Bw for receiving clamping bolts *355-* by which the trame E- is held in place, the partitions being also provided With vertically slotted i'langes for receiving the clamping bolts -4G-*- Y i The operation oi my improved pea-separating apparatus, brieily described, is lollows: The inixed peas and refuse are dumped into the hopper --land fall upon the ciprocating bottoni -`2*, whereby the pe are spread out niore or less along'the bott 2- and are worked or agitated throtgii the passage l2* until they tall from the inner edge of the bed `2` through the opening -13- and onto the screen -4-, which inclines downwardly therefrom to- Warl the hopper -5 lnring the agitation ot' the peas in the hopper 1* and through the passages l2- and 13* the lighter dust and fragments of the pods are drawn by suction throuvh the conduit -e 0- and forced through sain conduit to seine remote place `troni the separating apparatus while the perfect and crushed peas which are too heavy to be drawn into the suction pipe l0, together with the heavier fragments et the pod and balls of mud which cannot be taken up by the air draft tall upon and gravitate along the screen ll-g through which the vfiner peas, and niuch of thedirt or grit sit'ts onto the bed or bottoni -8-, and by reason ot the agitation of the frame -3- et which` the inclined bottom f?) is a part, these sittings are caused to gravitate into laterally extending chute *ll-4, which is also inclined downwardly and lateral and serves to discharge the sittings at one side of the inachine Where they may be collected in a suitable receptacle, not shown. The perectpeas and larger fragments of the pods, as well as other refuse. too large to pass through the screen gravitate' along the screen -e` through the opening -22- and into the i l l i l ,l

hopper Qi-, iroui which the niixed peas and rei'use `fall upon the upper inclined bed 'liect peas, which are hard and elastic, to rehound over the upper edge ol the partition --25- and 'upon the inclined way -32-, 'lroin which they fall upon the conveyer -3l-, while the broken oi' soft peas and refuse which are not elastic, siinply slides across the tace ol the inclined'bed 22%- and Ylinally i'all upon the inclined chute v-2"i*, thereby positi'vely separating the perfect peas from the imperfect ones and refuse. such perfect peas being carried away by the belt ---31l-- vfhile the refuse is conveyed in the opposite direction by the chute *2-t`i 1 i. In a machine of the class described, a screen supporting trarne and screen thereon, nieans to roci rocate the l'ranie, a hopper above one end of the screen and having a movable bottoni inounted upon one end of the traine and moving therewith across the open lower side ot the hopper, a series of inclined plates arranged one above the other below the opposite end or the hopper and ln ring their lower edges disposed in ditl'erent vertical planes one vin advance of the other freni the top down, and a series orn partitions one in front of the lower edge of each plate and spaced apart therefrom, each partition projecting' above the horizontal pla-ne of the 0W edge of its plate.

ln a machine series ci inclined ot the class described, a plates having their low yedges disposed in different vertical planes one in advance oi' the other froin'the top down, a bar flexibly connected to the higher from the top deyvnward, a vertically adjustable bar, connections between said bar and nietes, a tootl d reckon the bar and a pin- .l ing with the toothed rack whereby i i he adjusted vertically.

i yvhereo l have hereunto set niy 8th day et' ugust, i905.

.litVlNG S. MERREL vertical planes one in advance of the other IOC 

